Can-soldering machine.



PATENTED JUNE 23, 1903.

G. P. LEIGER. CAN SOLDERING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 27. 1902.

7 SHBETS-SHEET 1.

N0 MODEL.

a. R hN mww Q o O O O bN- w MN No. ?32,GD3. PATENTED JUNE 23, 1903. G.F. LEIGER.

CAN SOLDBRING MACHINE.

APPLIUATIOK PILED JAN. 271 1902. N0 MODEL. 7 SHEETS-SHEET 2,

I wwflj f 7 XL rm: Noam runs to. vnnoumn. wmqmovou. n. I;

No. 732,003. PATENTED JUNE "23,1903. G- .P. LEIGBR.

CAN SOLDERING MACHINE.

APPLIGATION FILED JAN. 27, 1902.

NO MODEL 7 SHEETSSHBET 3.

4% s e 5 J2Jn70r wai flaw/05W PATENTED JUNE 23, 1903. G. F. LEIGER.

CAN SOLDERING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 1m. 27, 1902.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 4,

mm %k v o r 0.. wAsumcmN. by c.

1m MODEL PATBNTED Jlmr'zs, 1903.

G. P. LEIGBR. CAN SOLDERING MAGHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 27, 1902.

'7 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

I0 MODEL.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

PATENTED JUNE 23, 1903.

/ a o o a J v Pm x G. F. LEIGER.

CAN SOLDERING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 27, 1902.

l r L I l h H H no MODEL.

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THE NORRIS PETERS co. PNOYO-UTHO" WASHINGTON, u. c.

am 0 9 1 am 2 B N U TU D E T N E T A P B G I E L w am 3 0 h 2 3 7 0 NCAN SOLDBRING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 27. 19'02.

7 SHBETSSHBET 7.

K0 MODEL.

, vno'muwu. WASHINGTON. u. c.

No. 732,003. Patented Tune 23, 1903.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE F. LEIGER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF .THREF-FOURTHS TOLEWIS BENEDICT, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

CAN-SOLDERING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 732,003, dated June 23,1903.

Application filed January 27, 1902. Serial No. 91,475. (No model.)

CLZZ H m it y 6 ing a View of a portion of the can-forwarding Be itknown that I, GEORGE F. LEIGER, a mechanism at the end of thecan-soldering citizen of the United States, residing at Chimachinenearest the can-body-forining macago, in the county of Cook and State ofIllichine; and Fig. 12 is a modification, being an 5nois, have inventedcertain new and useful enlarged detail of the same portion of theImprovementsin Can-Soldering Machines, of machine shown in Fig. 11modified.

which the following is a specification, refer- Referring to thedrawings, 13 indicates a once being had to the accompanying drawmachinefor forming cylindrical can-bodies. ings. The machine shown in Fig. 1 isof the same 60 My invention relates to can-soldering ma-' type andoperates in the same'manner as the chines; and its principal object isto provide can-body-forming machine shown in Letters new and improvedmechanism by which the Patent granted to me February 11, 1902, No. sideseams of cans may be soldered. 693,325. As the said machine, however, in

It has for a further object as an improvemost of its features forms nopart of my pres- 65 i5 ment in machines forsoldering theside seams entinvention, it will not be necessary to deof can-bodies the providing ofmechanism by scribe it more fully here than is necessary to which thecans as they are successively formed describe such parts of it as enterinto and asbya machine for forming the can-bodies may sist the operationof my present invention, be automatically received from said machinereference being made to my said patent for 70 by new and improvedmechanism and by afulldescription thereof. Istate here at the meansofothernewandimproved mechanism beginning of this application that whileI have their side seams soldered and after behave shown acan-body-forming machine of ing soldered delivered. the kind shown insaid patent and described It has for a furtherobject the improvement thesame so far as its parts enter into the op- 75 of mechanism forsoldering the side seams of eration of my present invention I do notconcans in sundry details hereinafter pointed fine myself to the use ofmy can-soldering out. a machine with a machine of that precise type,That which I regard as new will be set forth as any othercan-body-forming machine may in the claims. be used in connection withmy can-soldering 8c In the drawings, Figure .1 is a side elevamechanism,or the can-soldering mechanism tion showing a part of my improvedcan-solmight be used separately and not in connecdering mechanismconnected with a machine tion with a can-body-forming machine exformaking can-bodies. Fig. 2 is a side elecept in so far as hereinafterclaimed. vation of myimproved can-soldering machine. Referring to thesaid can-body-forming ma- 85 55 Fig. 3 is a top or plan view of the samemachine, 14. indicates the framework, in which chine. Fig. 4. is anenlarged detail, being an are journaled shafts 15 16 17, which are endview of the can-soldering machine viewed driven by a driving-wheel 18and gears 19 20 from the left-hand end of Figs. 2 and 3. Fig. 21. 22indicates a roller or cylinder which 5 is an enlarged detail, being atop or plan is mounted upon the outer end of the shaft 90 view of theleft-hand part of the mechanism 16. 23 indicatesa roller orcylinderofslightlyshown in Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail, smallerdiameter than the roller or cylinder being a section on line 6 6 of Fig.5. Fig. 7 22, also mounted upon the outer end of the is an enlargeddetail, being a vertical section shaft 16 beyond the roller 22 andconcentric on line 7 7 of Fig. 5. Fig. 8 is an enlarged therewith. 24indicates a semicylindrical' 5 detail, being a vertical section on line8 8 of sleeve provided with aflange 25, which slides Fig. 5. Fig. 9 isan enlarged detail in cross over the surface of the roller or cylinder22. section, showing the passage of a can along The sleeve 24. iscarried by rods 26 and a the solderingtube. Fig. 10 is an enlargedsleeve 27. 'lhesleeve27is reciprocated upon detail of a portion of asoldering-trough, bethe shaft 16 by means of a lever 28 and acam [c0 inga section on line 1.0 10 of Fig. 5. Fig. 11 29 upon a wheel 30, carriedon the shaft 15, is an enlarged detail, partially in section, beand thesleeve 24. is thus reciprocated over the surface of the roller 22 in themanner more fully described in my said patent above referred to. 31indicates a roll mounted upon the outer end of a shaft 17. 32 indicatesa seam-presser, also carried upon the outer end of the shaft 17. Theseparts are fully described in my said patent above referred to and needno further description here, except to say that the can-body is formedupon the roller 22 as the same rotates in the manner described in mysaid patent with its side seam interlocked, that after being so formedthe can-body is pushed from the roller 22 by the reciprocation of thesleeve 24, whose movements are suitably timed for that purpose, and thecan-body thus formed, with its side seam formed, is pushed upon theroller 23, where the side seam is pressed by the presser 32 in themanner described in said patent. When a second can is formed upon theroller22 in the same manner and is pushed from the roller 22 upon theroller 23, the previously-form ed can,with its side seam pressed, willby the moving forward of. the next can be pushed from the roller 23.

33 indicates a frame upon which my improved can-soldering mechanism iscarried and supported. 34 indicates a shaft journaled in said frame anddriven by means of a sprocket-wheel 35, either by being connected in anysuitable manner with the drivingwheel 18 of the can-body-forming machineor by power suitably applied in any other way. 36 37 indicatesprocket-Wheels which are journaled upon the end of the shaft 34 andcarry a sprocket-chain 38. The sprocket-chain 38 carries upon its innersurface a number of clips 39, which, as is best shown, for instance,

. in Figs. 3 and 4,.are mounted upon lugs 40,

attached to the sprocket-chain 38 and consist of two spring-armsyieldingly held close together throughout the greater portion of theirlength and spreading at their free ends into a fork. 41 indicates atrough adapted to contain melted solder and supported upon the frame 33.42 indicates gas-pipes which are connected with any suitable source ofsupply and are located beneath the solder-trough 41, supported by theframe 33. The pipes 42 are provided with suitable burners 43, by meansof which the solder in the trough 41 may be melted and kept in asuitably fluid condition. 44 indicates a trough adapted to contain acid,which is also supported by the frame 33. 45 indicates a pipe which isplaced in the trough 44. The pipe 45 has an upright portion 46, whichprojects somewhat above the top surface of the pipe and is provided withan arm or branch 47, which is provided with a longitudinal slot 48. 49indicates a wheel which is mounted on a stub-shaft 50 in the side of thetrough 44. The wheel 49 is 41. The pulley 53 is mounted upon the outerend of the shaft 34. The wheel 49 is rotated in the direction shown bythe arrow and is adapted to be immersed in the acid contained in theacid-trough 44 and byits rotation will cause the buckets 49 to liftthe'acid out of the trough 44 into the upright portion 46 of the pipe45, keeping the pipe full and overflowing through the slot 48, the outerend of the arm 47 being of course closed. The acid lifted into the pipe46 by means of the wheel 49 will keep the pipe 45, as was said,constantly full, and the acid overflowing through the slot 48 will fallback again into the acid trough or bath 44. 58 indicates a pipe which isprovided with an upright portion 59 and an arm 60. The upright portion59 has its top, as is best shown in Fig. 10, somewhat above the uppersurface of the pipe and is open at the top. The arm 60 is closed at itsouter end and is provided with a longitudinal slot 61, which registerswith the slot 48 in the pipe 47. 62 indicates a wheel provided withbuckets 63, which wheel is mounted upon the in ner end of the stub-shaft57 in the soldertrough 41. The wheel is adapted to dip into the meltedsolder in the trough 41, and when rotated in the direction shown by thearrow in Figs.5 and 8 the buckets 63 will dip melted solder out of thetrough and deliver it into the upright portion 59 of the pipe 58. Thepipe 58 will thus be kept full of solder, the melted solder overflowingthrough the slot 61 back into the trough 41. The slots 48 and 61 are ofsufficient width to permit the passage of the seam of a can along saidslots between the sides thereof, and thus to supply the proper amount ofsolder to the seam. By means of these devices when a can is carried inthe manner hereinafterdescribed, with its side scam in register with andpassing along the slot 48 in the pipe 47 and the slot 61 in the pipe 58,the seam will be first treated with the acid in the usual manner andthen soldered iu the manner hereinafter described. It is to be notedthat in accordance with the well-known laws of capillary attraction inliquids both the acid and the solder in overflowing through the slots 48and 61, respectively, will round up or be convex upon their surfaces andproject slightly above the upper surfaces of the pipes, as is shownsomewhat exaggerated for the purpose of couveniece of illustration inFigs. 9 and 10, so that the seam of the can in passing first through theacid and then through the solder will cut through the soldering materialand receivea slight portion of the acid and the solder successively uponthe inside of the can-bod y.

64 indicates guide-rods to guide the canbody properly upon the pipes 48and 60. The guides 64 are supported by brackets 65 66, which aresupported upon the sides of the troughs 41 and 44.

67 indicates a rod which is supported in a suitable bracket 68, which isin turn sup- ITO ported upon the framework ofthe machine. The rod 67 isslidingly mounted in said bracket or support 68, so that it may movelongitudinally of itself therein.

69indicates avertical strip of spring metal which is supported on thebrackets 68 and bears upon the side of the rod 67, so as to cause it tofrictionally engage the openings in the brackets 68 and afford asuitable resistance to its longitudinal movement therein.

7 0 indicates a latch which is pivotally carried upon the inner end ofthe rod 67. The manner in which said latch is pivoted upon the end ofthe rod 67 is best shown in the modified Fig. 12, in which certain partsshown in the other figures are not used. The latch 70 is provided with anotch 71 at one end which is adapted to engage with the end of a can andhold it in position so as to permit the longitudinal seam of said can tobe delivered in register with and pass along the slots 48 and 61 in thetubes 47 and 60, above described. The lower end of the latch 70 ispivotally connected with a rod 72, which is slidingly mounted insuitable openings in the bracket 68, so as to slide freelylongitudinally of itself therein. The inner end of the rod 72 ispivotally connected with the latch 70, preferably as is best shown inFig. 12, by means of a slot 73 in said latch 70 and a setscrew 74, sothat the throw of the latch, hereinafter described, may be suitablyvaried.

75 indicates a spring, one end of which is secured to a lug 76 in thebracket 68, and the other end is connected with the pivotal connectionbetween the inner end of the rod 72 and the latch 70. The spring is acontraction-spring and tends to normally hold the parts in the positionshown in solid lines in Fig. 11. As best shown in Figs. 11. and 12, therod 72 is somewhat longer than the rod 67, and its inner end projectsfarther outward to the right.

When the can, with its formed seam, is pushed from the roller 23 by thecan immediately following it, as above described, the forward edge ofthe flange 25 on the sleeve 24 in its forward motion contacts with theouter end of the rod 72. In the meanwhile the finished can- A, which, aswas said above,

is being pushed from the roller 23 by the can immediately following it,is carried around by the rotation of the roller upon which the seam hasbeen pressed, as above set forth, until the formed seam is at the lowestportion of the movement. The movements of the parts are so timed thatthe flange 25 of the sleeve 24 contacts'the end of the rod 72 at thatmoment and forces it inward against the action of the spring 75,throwing the latch 70 up into the position shown in dotted lines in Fig.11, with its notch 71 engaging the edge of the can and holding the seamin proper position to be delivered to the slots in the acid and solderpipes above described. Thereupon the end of the sleeve 24. comes incontact with the end of the rod 67, moving it also inward and carryingwith it the latch 70 and the can A at the same speed. As soon as thesleeve, with its flange 25, has pushed the can from the roller 22 uponthe roller 23, forcing the finished can off from the roller 23, as abovedescribed, it quickly recedes, leaving the rods 67 and 72 free to assumetheir original position. The rod 67, however, being frictionally held bymeans of the spring 69, the first operation of the spring 69 will be tothrow the latch back into the position shown in solid lines in Fig. 11,freeing the can from engagement with the notch 71 and allowing the canto be carried forward by the mechanism hereinafter described. As soon asthe latch 70 has, however, been thrown into the position shown in solidlines in Fig. 11 the spring 75, which is strong enough to overcome thefrictional resistance caused by the bearing of the spring 69 upon therod 67, throws the rods 67 and 72 back into their original position,carrying the latch 70 back to its original position ready to receive thenext can.

77 indicates a wheel which is mounted upon the shaft 34 and which isprovided upon its periphery with a number of cam projections 78.

79 indicates a lever which is pivotally mounted at its lower end uponthe frame 33 and is provided with a cam projection 80 near its lowerend, adapted to engage with the cam projections 78 on the wheel 77 asthe same is rotated, so as to throw the lever 79.

81 indicates a spring which bears at one end upon the surface of thelever 79 and at the other end upon a lug 82 on the frame 33 and tends byits expansion to normally force the lever over toward the right in theposition shown in Figs. 6 and 11.

83 indicates a rod which is slidingly mounted in suitableopenings in thebracket 68, so as to slide longitudinally of itself therein. The rod 83is provided with a finger 84, which projects above it and extends overunder the path of the can, as is best shown in- Fig. 4.

85 indicates a link which is pivotally connected at one end to the upperend of the le- 'ver 79 and at the other end to the rod 83,

whereby when the lever is thrown by the operation of the cams 78-the rod83 will be carried quickly inward longitudinally of itself.

When the can has been carriedforward, as above described, and beingengaged by the latch 70 is still further carried forward, as abovedescribed, its inner end will drop down slightly in front of the finger84:. As soon as the parts come into this position and the latch 70 isthrown so as to free it from ongagement with the forward end of the can,with the side seam of the can in proper register to be delivered to theslots in the acid and solder pipes, one of the cams 78 (the ICOmovements being suitably timed-for that pnrpose) contacts with the camprojection 80 and throws the lever 79 quickly forward into the positionshown in dotted lines in Fig. 11..

This causes the finger 84 to engage in the of the clip, so as to be heldfirmly thereby.

At this time the can also engages with the guides 64, and the clips areso placed that thus engaging the can as they are carried forward by thesprocket-chain 38 they will carry the can forward, with its seam inproper register, so as to pass along, first, the slot 48 of theacid-pipe 47, where it receives the acid treatment, as above set forth,then along and in register with the slot 61 of the solder-pipe 60, wherethe seam of the can passes through, the solder constantly overflowingthrough said slot, and is soldered, as above set forth. The position ofthe can with its seam passing along this slot and the reception of thesolder upon said seam are best shown in Fig. 9.

86 indicates a rotary brush which is carried upon the end of a shaft 87and is adapted to engage with the outer surface of the can at its seamafter the can has passed along the solder-pipe, as above set fort-h, andto brush the superfluous solder therefrom. The shaft 87 is rotated bymeans of a pulley 88 upon its outer end, a pulley 89 upon the stub-shaft57, and a belt or chain 90, connecting said pulleys 88 and 89.

91 (see Figs. 2 and 3) indicates curved guides whose curves aresubstantially concentric With the peripheryof the wheel 37, adapted toguide the bottom of the can.

When the cans have passed beyond the brush and beyond the guides 91,they are stripped from the clips 39 by a cross-piece 92 near the bottomof the framework at its outer end or in any other suitable manner andfall from the machine, where they may be gathered into any suitablereceptacle.

Referring for the moment to Fig. 1, 93 indicates a clamp which iscarried upon the outer end of the shaft 17 and is adapted to engage withthe outer end of the shaft 16- when the seam of the can is being pressedin order to prevent the forcing apart of the roller 23 and theseam-presser 32. All these are described in full in my previous patentabove referred to and need no further description here, as they form nopart of my present invention. I refer to them, however, in thisapplication, because when the clamp 93 is used on the machine for thepurpose above described itis necessary in order to prevent the cans frombeing struck by the revolving clamp to throw them away more rapidly thanthe movement of the succeeding can and the levers 67 and 72 wouldotherwise carry them, and to that end I have shown, described, anddevised the method last above set forth by which the can is rapidlyforced into the clips by means of the cams 78, lever 79, rod 83, andfinger 84. In some constructions of the can-body-forming machine and inthe construction, indeed, which I now prefer to make the clamp is notnecessary, and I have therefore devised the modification shown in Fig.

12. In that figure the parts are all the same, except that the wheel 77,earns 78, lever 79, spring 81, rod 83, finger 84, and link 85 areomitted, and the mechanism is provided with guides 94, which project.backward from the framework under the can upon each side of the latchand are adapted to support the can in its forward movement. In themodification thus shown it is suificient that the sprocket-chain 38,carrying the clips 39, be

moved at a slower rate of speed than the forward motion of the sleeve24, and the can being carried forward by the movement of the can behindit, which is of course the same as the speed of the sleeve 24, willby-reason of its quicker forward movement be forced into the clips 39and engaged thereby, they being placed upon the sprocket-chain and themovement being so timed as to insure this. This movement of the clipswill of course be slower than the movement caused by the cams 78 and thelever 79; but it is sufficient, except where it is necessary to move thecan rapidly, for the reason above set forth.

I have, as was said above, shown and described my can-soldering machineas used in connection with a can-body-forming machine of the kind shownin my patent aforesaid, and that is the kind which I prefer to use inconnection with the can-soldering machine;

It is obvious, however, that some other form ofcan-body-formingmechanism might be used, and, indeed, that my improved can-solderingmechanism might be used independently of a can-body-forming machine, thenecessary moving parts being operated in any well known and approvedmanner, and I therefore do not limit myself to the use of that form ofcan-body-forming machine or to the connection of my can-solderingmachine therewith or with any other form of can-bodyforming machine,except as hereinafter spe-r cifically claimed.

By providing pipes with longitudinal slots of suitable width to permitthe passage of the seam of a can along said slots and between the sidesthereof and by providing means by which the soldering material is fedcontinuously into said pipes, so as to continuously overflow through theslots, I secure advantages over the old form of passing the can directlythrough the bath, which are important, and this is particularly truewith reference to the solder itself. By passing the seam of the canalong this narrow slot, out of which the solder is kept constantlyoverflowing, a constant level of the solder is preserved for the seam ofthe can to contact, and by making the slot of suitable width to permitthe passage of the seam along it, which width, of course, will dependupon the width of the seam to be soldered, the solder is prevented frombeing spread too far upon each side of the seam and waste of solder isprevented. Besides this, by constantly supplying the solder to the pipeand allowingit to continually overflow through the slot the solder inthe slot is kept always clean and free from oxidation.

That which I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by LettersPatent, is-

1. In a can-soldering machine, the combination with a trough adapted tocontain soldering material and a pipe located in said trough partiallyabove the level of the soldering material therein and provided with anupwardly-projecting end having a feed-opening at its top and having anarm provided with a longitudinal slot, of mechanism adapted tocontinuously supply soldering material from said trough into thefeed-opening of said pipe and cause the continuous overflow of saidsoldering material through said slot, and mechanism adapted to engage acan and carry its seam along said slot.

2. In a can-soldering machine, the combination with a trough adapted tocontain solder, heating mechanism adapted to keep the solder in saidtrough constantly melted, and

a pipe located in said trough above the level of the solder containedtherein and provided with an upward-projecting portion having afeed-opening at its top and having an arm provided with a longitudinalslot, of mechanism adapted to continuously supply solder from saidtrough into the feed-opening of said pipe and cause a continuousoverflow of said solder through said slot, and mechanism adapted toengage a can and carry its seam along said slot, substantially asdescribed.

3. The combination with mechanism adapted to form a can-body, andmechanism adapted to eject a completed can-body from saidcan-body-forming mechanism, of a trough adapted to contain solderingmaterial, devices adapted to engage the can-body and carry the side seamof the same through said soldering material, and mechanism operated bysaid can-ejecting mechanism and adapted to force the can into saidcan-engaging devices, substantially as described.

4. The combination with mechanism adapted to form a can-body, andmechanism adapted to eject the completed can-body from saidcan-body-forming mechanism, of a receptacle adapted to hold solderingmaterial, a latch adapted to engage the front end of the can and hold itwhen so engaged in such position that its seam may be delivered to thesoldering material in said receptacle, mechanism operated by saidcan-ejecting mechanism to engage said latch with and disengage it fromthe can, can-engaging mechanism adapted to engage said can when freedfrom said latch and to carry the seam of said can through the solderingmaterial in said receptacle, and mechanism operated by said can-ejectingmechanism to force the cans into said can-engaging devices,substantially as described.

5. The combination with mechanism adapted to form a can-body, andmechanism adapted to eject the completed can-body from saidcan-bodyforming mechanism, of a receptacle adapted to hold solderingmaterial, a latch adapted to engage the front end of the can and hold itwhen so engaged in such position that its seam may be delivered to thesoldering material in said receptacle, mechanism operated by saidcan-ejecting mechanism to engage said latch with and disengage it fromthe can, a sprocket chain, mechanism for moving said sprocketchain,clips on said sprocket-chain adapted to engage the can and carry itsseam through the soldering material in said receptacle, and meansoperated by said can-ejecting mechanism to force the can into saidclips, substantially as described.

6. The combination with mechanism adapted to form a can-body, andmechanism adapted to eject the completed can-body from saidcan-body-forming mechanism, of a receptacle adapted to hold solderingmaterial, a latch adapted to engage the front end of the can and hold itwhen so engaged in such position that its seam may be delivered to thesoldering material in said receptacle, mechanism operated by saidcan-ejecting mechanism to engage said latch with and disengage it fromthe can, a sprocket-chain, mechanism for moving said sprocket-chain,clips on said sprocketchain adapted to engage the can and carry its seamthrough the soldering material in said receptacle, a sliding rod adaptedto engage the rear end of the can and when thrown forward to force thefront edge of the can into said clips, and means for reciprocating saidslid ing rod, substantially as described.

7. The combination with mechanism adapted to form a can-body, andmechanism adapted to eject the completed can-body from saidcan-body-forming mechanism, of a receptacle adapted to hold solderingmaterial, a latch adapted to engage the front end of a can and hold itwhen so engaged in such position that its seam may be delivered to thesoldering material in said receptacle, mechanism operated by saidcan-ejecting mechanism to engage said latch with and disengage it fromthe can,

a sprocket-chain, mechanism for moving said sprocket-chain at a slowerrate of speed than the movement of said can-ejecting mechanism, clipscarried by said sprocket-chain and adapted to engage the front end of acan, and guides adapted to guide the disengaged cans successively intoaliuement with said clips, whereby when the cans are ejected by saidcomparatively rapidly moving can-ejecting mechanism the front edgesthereof will be successively forced into said comparatively slowlymoving clips, substantially as described.

8. In a can-soldering machine, the combination with a receptacle adaptedto hold soldering material, a pipe located above the level of thesoldering material in said receptacle and provided with a feed-openingat one end and With a longitudinal slot, and mechanism adapted to supplysoldering material from said receptacle to the feed-opening of said pipeand cause a constant overflow thereof through said slot, of a latchadapted to engage the front end of a can and deliver the can with itsside scam in alinement with said slot, mechanism for operating saidlatch and causing it to engage with and disengage from the front edge ofthe can, clips adapted to en-

